203 THE NORTH-AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION. 



43. Although this great amount of sickness is, in some degree, attri- 

 butable to the re-development of previous disease, yet it more directly 

 results from the bad quality and improper description of the provisions 

 with which the vessel is supplied, and it had been considered absolutely 

 necessary to furnish provisions from the stores of the Expedition for 

 the use of the schooner's crew, their only remaining provisions consist- 

 ing of salt beef of indifferent quality, biscuit much damaged by cock- 

 roaches, and tea. 



44. The 'Tom Tough* was now moored below the shoals at Mos- 

 quito Flats, and had been so far repaired, by the unceasing energy of 

 Captain Gourlay, that she was nearly ready for sea, a strong frame 

 having been fixed inside the timbers, the seams caulked, and the butts 

 secured. She now only makes ten inches water per diem, whereas that 

 was previously the usual quantity per hour. Great credit is due to 

 Captain Gourlay for the manner in which this work has been performed, 



having done all the smith's work and much of the carpentering with his 

 own hands. 



45. It is now my intention to proceed with the exploration of the 

 country towards the Gulf of Carpentaria, and I have accordingly in- 

 structed the master of the ■ Tom Tough ' to proceed to Coepang for 

 supplies, and thence to the Albert River to co-operate with the land 

 Expedition. 



46. The greatly reduced number of horses, and the impracticability 

 of employing the drays for the conveyance of stores, has rendered neces- 

 sary a modification in the number and arrangement of the exploring 

 parties ; and, on the present occasion, I shall employ a party of seven 

 persons, as it is desirable that the party should not be entirely de- 

 pendent on the assistance of the vessel at the Albert River. 



47. The remainder of the exploring party will proceed in the 

 schooner to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and on the junction, at the Albert 

 River, of the two sections of the Expedition, the party will be re-organ- 

 ized, and, if practicable, continue the overland route to More ton Bay. 



48. Enclosed I transmit a sketch of the country traversed by the 

 Expedition to the present time, and as it may render it more intelli- 

 gible, append a few remarks on the physical character of the country, 

 which may be considered to be a table-land of sandstone. Rising ab- 

 ruptly from the low land on the coast, it attains an average level of 

 700 feet on the banks of the Victoria, in lat. 15°, 900 feet in lat. 16°, 



